Flag carrier Air India will commence its services to Hubballi (erstwhile Hubli) from Bengaluru, connecting Mumbai from December 12.

The airline will deploy an Airbus A319 to cater to the new service, connecting the commercial hub of Karnataka with the state capital.

The flight on Bengaluru Hubballi- Mumbai and Mumbai- Hubballi- Bengaluru sector will operate thrice a week --Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays --with an A 319 plane, the airline said in a release today.

Fight AI 507 will depart from Bengaluru at 1200 hours to reach Hubbballi at 1250 hours and will leave Hubballi at 1325 hours to arrive in Mumbai at 1430 hours, it said.

In its return leg, Air India flight AI 508 will depart from Mumbai at 1525 hours to reach Hubballi at 1635 hours, will leave Hubballi at 1810 hours to arrive back in Bengaluru at 1900 hours, as per the release.

The new flight will give a boost to tourism and also fulfill a long standing demand of travellers from the second largest city and commercial hub of the state, Air India said.